A first birthday is a fantastic occasion to celebrate! There are so many milestones achieved in a child's first year. A creative theme to commemorate a little boy's first birthday party is travel complete with airplanes and hot air balloons. We've put together our very best ideas in this highly detailed Vintage Travel-themed party.
A Great Theme Starts with Matching Invitations
A passport invitation is the perfect way to invite guests to come and fly with you for a travel-themed party. These adorable passport invitations were created by Amber Dominique Designs and set the stage for a spectacular party to come! I love the personalized passport stamps that she added to the interior pages. These first few pages were decorated with fun facts about the first birthday boy. 
A Cohesive Color Palette
An airplane theme works with colors often seen in airline logos, such as red and blue. We used white, yellow and shades of brown as accents. Sticking to the color palette throughout the party decoration design is important if you like an organized, cohesive look. 
Designing Tables
For the children's table, we used a long section of runway aisle runner as a table runner. (When decorating, be on the lookout for versatile products like this that can be used in multiple ways!) We set the table with red dinner plates topped with airplane patterned dessert plates. Red napkins and light blue forks were set out for each child. Red party cups that we personalized with an image of the birthday boy also set the tone on the table. Party favors were placed at each place setting and clusters of white balloons were placed down the length of the table. 
On the adult tables, we used red floor-length linens and cut sections of Fadeless Clouds and Sky Paper to create table runners. These were topped with fluffy arrangements of fresh, white hydrangeas and a scattering of customized confetti created by Amber Dominique Designs. 
In-Flight Dining for Hungry Passengers
Cute hand lettered signs and printables add interest to the party buffet. Fun paper straws at the beverage station are another way to add color and whimsy.
A Dessert Display with Unique, Personalized Details
This dessert table has it all! Custom cookies, small-bite desserts, cute themed favors to take home and an incredible cake. The key to creating a dessert station for a birthday party like this one is to stick firmly to your color palette and create levels of elevation to display the treats. Mini suitcases and larger pieces of real luggage, wood crates and even vintage books are great ways to add height variation to the table. 
These incredible hot air balloon, cloud, airplane and suitcase cookies were created by talented cookie artisan Suzie Bock, owner of Couture Cookie Company. We think they're pretty spectacular and are a beautiful accent on this stunning dessert table. 
Our Cloud on a Stick party favors are displayed vertically in a cute basket with paper shreds. Guests can select one and just pull it straight from the display for enjoying at the party or later. 
Specialty bakery Sweet and Saucy Shop of Newport Beach provided these decadent small-bite desserts. We added custom printables from Amber Dominique Designs to finish off the display. Guests can visit the dessert display with their adorable airplane plates and enjoy all the tasty treats. 
The showstopper of the dessert display is the cake; a masterpiece confection designed by Christie Troxell, and created by Cakes by Queens. This incredible two-tiered, fondant covered cake features intricately detailed passport stamps, custom cookie embellishments by Couture Cookie Company and even has a calligraphy lettered message with the birthday boy's name. The cake coordinates perfectly with Oriental Trading's Up and Away dessert plates.
Personalized Touches Create Cohesiveness
This first birthday party dazzles with details. Our Propellor Pops come to life with a hand-cut image of the birthday boy as pilot in a festive party hat! Personalized cupcake toppers add even more customization. The guest book for the party is a world map. Guests were invited to add a personal message for the birthday boy using colored Sharpies. 
These Cloud on a Stick Favors were enhanced with a cute tag and tied with pretty red sheer ribbon. 
Interactive Activities for Guaranteed Fun
This first birthday boy is as darling as he can be in his Up and Away Photo Booth. Guests can take photos at the booth using a Fujifilm InstaX instant film camera. Up and Away photo booth props and aviator hats add to the fun! 
A bubble machine and bounce house were additional delightful party enhancements.
Customized travel-themed party favors at each place setting are a great way for the kids to stay entertained during the party. They enjoyed zooming their wooden planes into the sky of white balloon clouds and playing with airplane whizzers and mini mylar balloons. 
Our little birthday guy had fun enjoying his very own travel-themed smash cake. We think he looks like a perfect pilot in his red aviator hat! Hope you've enjoyed "flying" with us through this cute first birthday theme! 
Photography: To Pepper, With Love
Cookies: Couture Cookie Company
Small Bite Desserts: Sweet and Saucy Shop, Newport Beach
Cake: Cakes by Queens
Airplane Decals and Map Backdrop: Walls Need Love
Party Printables: Amber Dominique Designs
Location: Lido Isle Clubhouse, Newport Beach
